Films festooned with gold medals from prestigious international festivals, classic comedy masterpieces, the latest from Slovak filmmakers, fresh cinematic delicacies from Asia, a tribute to an Oscar-winning heavyweight: all this and even more await audiences at Art Film Fest\u2019s nineteenth edition, which will be held from 17 to 25 June, 2011 in Tren\u010dianske Teplice and Tren\u010d\u00edn. Yet again, the international festival will bring films to Slovakia that aren\u2019t generally screened in our cinemas. <\/p>\n
As in previous years, our two competition sections will juxtapose pictures by filmmakers from around the globe. Art Film Fest\u2019s centrepiece is the International Competition of Feature Films<\/b>, presenting work from talented up-and-coming directors which has already enjoyed success at world-class festivals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe International Competition of Feature Films is very important to the festival, and I’m quite confident that it is to filmmakers themselves as well. Even last year, despite the relative lack of big names, the section was among our most popular," said festival director and the section’s coordinator, Peter N\u00e1gel. <\/p>\n
Directors on their first, second or third film will vie for the festival\u2019s top prize \u2013 the Blue Angel. \u201cOur goal is not to restrict the section to films awarded at major festivals, though of course we won’t refuse them, and there will doubtlessly be more of them in the final selection. We aim to include pictures bearing a distinctive artistic signature and an original idea convincingly realized," added N\u00e1gel. The section will offer viewers a chance to see films such as the Chinese "Winter Vacation" (Han Jia), recipient of the Golden Leopard at Locarno’s well-known festival. <\/p>\n
The second competition section is the International Competition of Short Films<\/b>, always an audience favourite, offering a diverse mix of fiction, documentary, experimental and animated work by both professionals and film students from around the world. <\/p>\n
The dozens of films will include several recipients of prominent awards, such as Chile’s "The Shower" (La Ducha) and "The Unliving" (\u00c5terf\u00f6delsen) from Sweden \u2013 both award winners at this year\u2019s Berlinale. Following up his victory at last year\u2019s Art Film Fest with the picture \u201cBelieve\u201d, English director Paul Wright will present his latest creation \u201cUntil the River Runs Red\u201d, freshly bestowed with a prestigious BAFTA award.<\/p>\n
As always, Slovak Season<\/b> will survey our local film industry\u2019s latest harvest, featuring brand-new feature-, medium- and short-length films, including a selection of student work. Among those selected are two new medium-length documentaries \u2013 Marek \u0160ul\u00edk\u2019s \u201cChcela som by\u0165 matka\u201d and Jaro Vojtek\u2019s \u201cPovieme si to v nebi\u201d. <\/p>\n
European Corner<\/b>, the festival\u2019s most extensive section, presents old-world films that have captivated the rest of the globe. \u201cEurope has long moved beyond its reputation for boring, tedious films strictly for art-house snobs. Our selection features the work of experienced, respected masters, but we also draw attention to auspicious new talents," explained section coordinator Peter N\u00e1gel. Festival visitors can look forward to the latest from directors such as Ken Loach, Peter Mullan, Rachid Bouchareb and Jerzy Skolimowski. <\/p>\n
Around the World<\/b> introduces extraordinary discoveries from outside of Europe, films that have already been awarded at other prestigious festivals. Among the highlights are Israel\u2019s national Oscar candidate, \u201cThe Human Resources Manager\u201d, winner of the Audience Award at Locarno and nine Israeli film awards, and the most talked-about Iranian film of the moment, \u201cA Separation\u201d (Jodaeiye Nader Az Simin), which took home the Golden Bear from the Berlinale two months ago.<\/p>\n
Art Film Fest\u2019s president, actor Milan Lasica, has once again assembled his own section The Best of Comedy<\/b>, a favourite among fans of the good old classics. This time Mr. Lasica will pay homage to the late Italian director Mario Monicelli<\/b>, whose unforgettable comedies featuring distinguished Italian stars will delight old fans and first-timers alike. Renowned comedies such as \u201cViva Italia!\u201d (I nuovi mostri), \u201cWe Want the Colonels\u201d (Vogliamo i colonnelli), \u201cCasanova 70\u201d and \u201cThe Great War\u201d (La grande guerra), each personally introduced by Mr. Lasica, are guaranteed fun for everyone. <\/p>\n
For the first time ever, this year’s Art Film Fest will feature a profile of the latest and greatest cinema from Canada’s most respected film scene: Quebec. The section Focus: Quebec Screen<\/b> will present a line-up of films representing the greatest successes of the last three years, all nominees or award winners at the most prominent festivals at home and abroad. Take Denis C\u00f4t\u00e9\u2019s \u201cCurling\u201d for example, which may sound like a sports documentary, but is in fact a harrowing family drama, awarded at Locarno last year. <\/p>\n
Another newcomer to this year\u2019s Art Film Fest is Dangerous Kids<\/b>, \u201ca thematic section focused on young children who you probably wouldn’t want in your own home," explained the section’s coordinator Martin Ciel. In director Tom Shankland’s terrifying \u201cThe Children\u201d, those who you’ve brought into the world are the ones who will take you out of it! <\/p>\n
Surveying independent cinema from around the world, Love and Anarchy<\/b> never fails to attract audiences. This time around, the section will include a film from young Peruvian brothers Daniel and Diego Vega: \u201cOctober\u201d (Octubre), a distinctive, minimalist tribute to Jim Jarmusch. <\/p>\n
Late Night Show<\/b> has become a true Art Film Fest institution, dedicated to the nighthawks with the energy to come have a blast at the evening\u2019s final screening. \u201cThis year we\u2019ve got something special in store for fans of horror and kung-fu films," said the section’s coordinator, Ivana Petr\u00edkov\u00e1. It\u2019s certainly worth mentioning the Australian director Sean Byrne\u2019s horror film \u201cThe Loved Ones\u201d, which has been a major hit at numerous horror and fantasy film festivals, and was even awarded at the Toronto IFF. Audiences will recognize lead Xavier Samuel from films such as "Eclipse", an adaptation from the popular Twilight Saga. <\/p>\n
In Eastern Promises<\/b>, we’ll be serving up some fascinating Asian cinema. \u201cThe section exposes the wilder, livelier and indeed the more passionate side of East-Asian film, more accessible to a wider audience,\u201d said Adrian \u017di\u0161ka, one of the section\u2019s coordinators. Among those bound to draw crowds is \u201cCastaway on the Moon", a modern-day Robinson Crusoe acclaimed as one of South Korea\u2019s best comedies.<\/p>\n
The festival screenings will be held in Tren\u010dianske Teplice at the Tatra banka Cinema Tent, Prame\u0148 Cinema, the Spa Hall and the open-air Cinematograph, as well as in Tren\u010d\u00edn at ODA Cinema, Metro Art Cinema and two Cinemax auditoriums.
The 19th Art Film Fest International Film Festival 2011 is made possible by the financial support of the Audiovisual Fund.<\/p>\n
Organizers:<\/b> ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s. <\/p>\n
Co-organizers:<\/b> The Town of Tren\u010dianske Teplice, Tren\u010dianske Teplice Spas<\/p>\n
Main Sponsors:<\/b> Tatra banka, Slovnaft, VUJE<\/p>\n
Official Transport Provider:<\/b> Lancia <\/p>\n
Logistics Sponsor:<\/b> DHL <\/p>\n
Free Cinepasses for students are provided by:<\/b> Prv\u00e1 stavebn\u00e1 sporite\u013e\u0148a (First Housing-Construction Savings Bank)<\/p>\n
Sponsors:<\/b> TIPOS, Ernst & Young, Cinemax <\/p>\n
Official Supplier:<\/b> HUBERT J.E.<\/p>\n
Media Sponsors:<\/b> Slovak Television, JOJ Television, Central Europe Television, Kino CS, Muzika CS, Doku CS, R\u00e1dio FM, R\u00e1dio Europa 2, R\u00e1dio Hit FM, Pravda, .t\u00fd\u017ede\u0148, Eurotelev\u00edzia, Pardon, FilmMax, OK!, Kam do mesta, Focus, Boomerang Media, SITA, zoznam.sk, moviemania.sk<\/p>\n
Partners:<\/b> The City of Tren\u010d\u00edn, the Embassy of Israel in Slovakia, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia, the Slovak Film Institute<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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